Erdoğan meets Pakistani PM Sharif in Istanbul for talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday received Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Vahdettin Palace in Istanbul. Following an official welcoming ceremony, the two leaders proceeded to a bilateral meeting. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Intelligence Organisation (MİT) head İbrahim Kalın, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, and the president’s chief adviser Akif Çağatay Kılıç attended the closed-door talks.

Delegation meeting and press conference

Following the bilateral meeting, the leaders are expected to hold a delegation-level meeting and a joint press conference. The talks are likely to cover bilateral cooperation, regional security, and the evolving situation in the Middle East, including the Iran-US ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz, and developments in Gaza and Syria. Sharif’s visit comes days after he attended the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran.

Strong bilateral ties

The meeting underscores the close relationship between Türkiye and Pakistan, which have cooperated closely on defence, trade, and regional diplomacy. Turkish and Pakistani officials have previously discussed joint defence production, including drones and naval platforms, as well as cooperation on counter-terrorism. Sharif’s visit also follows Pakistan’s mediation role in the Iran-US agreement, in which Türkiye has offered support. Turkish officials have expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and have called for continued coordination on regional stability.